Brian Gorlick, a senior policy analyst for the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), will give a lecture titled "No Safe Passage: Gender-Based Protection and UNHCR's Role" at Coastal Carolina University. The lecture will be held on Monday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. at the Recital Hall of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a reception.

Gorlick's presentation serves a twofold purpose, according to Maria K. Bachman, director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program. It is a sobering and real-world companion piece to Coastal's current theatrical production, "War (women)" - a tragedy that depicts the horrific toll taken on women during times of war. It also serves as a kick-off event for International Women's Day on March 8, which recognizes that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms requires the active participation, equality and development of women.

UNHCR is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. UNHCR's primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. The organization strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, and to return home, voluntarily.

Before Gorlick joined UNHCR in 1991, he was a legal representative in the areas of immigration and refugee law in Toronto. He has served with the UNHCR branch office in Turkey, the Department of International Protection in Geneva, the Office of the Chief of Mission in India and at the Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic Countries in Sweden.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program, the Globalist Club and the Department of Theater. For more information, contact Maria K. Bachman 349-2747 or Pam Martin 349-2966.